Hot Spot: New York’s Lower East Side

Once the domain of street punks and smack peddlers, the Lower East Side is now the center of hipster cool. Some lament the transformation, but we welcome it. “Character” is overrated and gentrification has its benefits. So if you’re heading to New York, abort Midtown and give the finger to the Meatpacking District. The LES is where it’s at!

Where to ShopThe Lower East Side has become one of New York’s top stops on the women’s shopping circuit with a hot new boutique popping up seemingly every day. First head over and check out the cute stuff on display at Shop on Stanton Street. Then bop across the street to check out the vintage chic at Foley + Corinna. Around the corner on Ludlow, you’ll find all sortsa sexy at Dolce Vita. Finally head down to Rivington to peruse the throwback fashions at Honey in the Rough.

Where to EatGood eats are easy to find in the LES, one of New York’s hotter dining neighborhoods. Brunch is big in town and few places are better than Clinton Street Bakery, Pastis-cousin Schiller’s Liquor Bar and the slightly-hidden gem Freemans. But dinner’s the thing and the LES is simply stocked with great restaurants. There’s awesome Italian (Perbacco, Frankie’s 17), hot fusion (Bao 111) and epic sushi (Sachiko's on Clinton). Frankly, if you just walk down Clinton Street, you can’t lose.

And, of course, no visit to the Lower East Side is complete without a stop at the world-famous Katz’s Delicatessen.

Where to ProwlThe LES is best known for its nightlife but until recently bona fide cougar dens were in short supply. But that’s all changing with the emergence of hot new clubs and lounges (The Box, The Back Room) to complement the area’s well-known dives (Welcome to the Johnsons, The Library) and rock joints (Arlene’s Grocery, Pianos). But it’s the Bowery Hotel’s Italian restaurant & bar Gemma that is leading the cougar charge. This place is simply crawling with hot cougars and cool cubs

Where to StayWhy not stay close to the action at The Bowery Hotel? Sure it’s expensive, but so is pretty much anywhere else worth staying in New York. It’s right in the heart of the action at Bowery and 4th Street, near the heart of the LES and Alphabet City, across from B-Bar, and a mere hop to Nolita, Soho and the West Village should you want to venture from the cozy confines of the Lower East Side. Not down with The Bowery? Try Hotel on Rivington or the new Hotel East Houston. Or if you think bigger is better, wait for the towering Cooper Square Hotel.